The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is calling for the resignation of a Putnam County commissioner who used anti-Muslim “towel head” slur during a public meeting on Tuesday.
Commissioner Walton Pellicer used the slur while discussing current military tensions and the war with Iran. Pellicer mentioned his experience touring an aircraft carrier currently deployed in the U.S.-Israel war on Iran and said, “Kind of neat to think that I was on that, that’s over there flinging on those um towel heads.”
[NOTE: The term “towel head” is often used by bigots as a slur targeting Arabs and Muslims.]
SEE: Commissioner hurls slur during board meeting
SEE: Putnam County commissioner refuses to apologize after using ethnic slur during public meeting
In a statement, CAIR-Florida Communications DirectorWilfredo A. Ruiz said:
“Elected officials have a responsibility to represent all members of their community with dignity and respect. The use of a hateful and dehumanizing slur by Commissioner Pellicer is unacceptable and unbefitting of public office. His refusal to apologize only compounds the harm caused to American Muslims and others who expect their leaders to uphold basic standards of decency. We call on Commissioner Pellicer to resign immediately.”
He noted that earlier this week, CAIR welcomed the resignation of a Brookfield, Wisconsin, alderman following reports he posted violent anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant comments online.
According to CAIR’s most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.
In that report, CAIR notes that Florida is one of five states in which complaints have increased in each of the last three years. CAIR also reports that Florida officials sought to ban Islamic religious practices in the state and attacked Islamic schools.
CAIR-Florida is the state’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, foster dialogue, safeguard civil liberties for all, empower American Muslims, and form coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR-Florida es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACTS:Wilfredo A. Ruiz, CAIR-Florida Communications Director, 305-502-6749, wruiz@cair.com; Chelsea Mandrigues, Communications Coordinator, 813-705-5440, cmandrigues@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com